Nevertheless, O'Donnell's absence will only add to the speculation that his days as a Jet are numbered. Last season he was benched as the starting quarterback, then returned after his replacement, Glenn Foley, was injured.

But now the Jets want to renegotiate O'Donnell's 1998 salary of $4.25 million, and O'Donnell does not want to take a pay cut. So the Jets, too, are probably happy that O'Donnell won't be lifting weights next week because a tricky legal situation could arise if he were injured while working out.

Steinberg said that O'Donnell -- who is not comfortable in the spotlight -- also did not want to be subjected to a daily quizzing by members of the news media and teammates about his status.

Yesterday, Parcells said ''no comment'' when asked about O'Donnell's absence and about his reasons for excusing the quarterback and sending the letter, the existence of which was reported yesterday in The Daily News.

It appears that it is a mutual decision and, in a sense, it helps both sides in what is becoming a bizarre affair. Parcells is at a crossroads these days about how to handle the quarterback situation. He doesn't believe the Jets can afford the huge salary O'Donnell is scheduled to earn, but the coach isn't ready to unload him until there is a reliable backup for Foley. The coach, meanwhile, has his own concerns about Foley's ability to take the weekly pounding of a starter.

EXTRA POINTS

The Jets have not asked about DAVE BROWN, the former Giants quarterback, said his agent, LEIGH STEINBERG. . . . KEYSHAWN JOHNSON will play himself in an episode of ''Veronica's Closet,'' the NBC comedy starring KIRSTIE ALLEY. The show will be broadcast next month.